Letters to the Editor, April 11

I recently saw the documentary film, “A Place at the Table,” about hunger in America. It was painful to hear a young girl talk about how her stomach growls and she can’t pay attention at school. Her family made a little too much to qualify for food stamps (SNAP), but not enough to cover all their food needs. This little girl is but one of 50 million Americans who are “food insecure” today.

The very next day, March 31, U. S. House Budget Chair Paul Ryan released his proposed budget, which promises deep cuts in food stamps and government-paid health care for the poor and working class. On the other hand, he proposes to reduce the top corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 25 percent and provides no new funding for job creation.

In addition, the Pentagon and war contractors are protected in Ryan’s budget, maintaining currently projected spending levels through 2021 and then enjoying budget increases thereafter.

Meanwhile, here in North Carolina we anguish over the poor performance of so many of our children. We blame teachers and schools, but rarely question the federal budget, which sets the priorities for our tax spending and heavily impacts the lives of our children. If Paul Ryan has his way, the country will continue its war on the poor and its wars around the world. It’s time to let our members of Congress know what our priorities need to be.

Betsy Crites
Durham

No term limits, no change

First, my heart goes out to the families of those killed and injured in the second mass shooting at Fort Hood, Texas. But not letting our military personnel carry firearms on post, which they are trained to do, is absurd.

Walk into a bank to cash a check or a dealership to buy a car you will need a photo ID. But to require one for voting is a big deal? Please, someone tell me who in this society cannot get some form of ID with a picture of yourself. not someone else.

We have enough oil reserves in this country that we should be energy-dependent from any country in the world but please don't kill that snail or lizard that might be in the way. Pick them up and move them somewhere else. They will survive.

We had an embassy attacked by terrorists and no one has been charged. It was a terrorist attack and it does make a difference, regardless of what our ex-Secretary of State said. Remember that at voting time!

And speaking of voting time -- just ask any of our elected officials why they opted out of the Affordable Health Care Act. As long as we do not have term limits in the House and Senate nothing will change in D.C. Doesn't make a difference if they are liberals or conservatives!

Oh, and if you like you insurance plan and doctor you will be able to keep them, right!